Tip #3:
Utilize wardrobe boxes
Your Austin moving company has found a lot of ways to maximize wardrobe box use. These tall boxes are perfect for bulky, lightweight items such as comforters, pillows, and blankets, as well as clothes that need to remain hanging. Our standard wardrobe boxes are 24 inches wide – so 2 feet of your hanging clothes will fit in each box. Measure the clothes in your closets (including coat closets) to see how many wardrobe boxes you will need. You can also use wardrobe boxes for closet storage boxes, shoe boxes, and other bulky items such as fabric bolts, large baskets, or gift wrap tubes. Wardrobe boxes work great for securing odd miscellaneous items you are unable to fit in other boxes for interstate moving (i.e. vacuums, ironing boards, brooms and mops, non-fragile lamps, fans, space heaters, folding chairs, etc). Just don’t make the boxes too heavy to lift! Wardrobe boxes are not meant for books, bricks, bowling balls, dishes, or other small, heavy items that can easily be packed in smaller boxes.

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Tip #2:
Have plenty of supplies
Don’t make us say this twice—you will need LOTS of boxes—probably more boxes than you ever imagined, and having enough boxes will make your life easier! (If you buy your boxes from us here at your local Austin moving company keep in mind that we offer free delivery! No hauling or schlepping – we do the heavy lifting for you.)
Have about 10 boxes set aside to use for last minute items on moving day, such as bedding, clothing, and cleaning supplies. You will need strong packing tape to close up the boxes securely (and please don’t forget to tape the bottoms of the boxes, too!). Use unprinted newsprint (newspaper can stain your items) or packing paper or bubble wrap to wrap and cushion your fragile household goods. Use paper to fill in any spaces left in your boxes so they do not crush when stacked in the moving truck. Again, you will need lots more supplies than you think, so get some extras so the packing can go smoothly. Simply return any unused supplies after the truck is packed (we don’t charge you for what you don’t use!).
If you are moving out of state remember that everything must be packed in boxes – unlike a local Austin move, nothing can go loose. If you are unsure how to pack something just ask us; we’ve packed it all before and can offer a lot of useful packing tips and tricks!

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Your friends at Elephant Moving & Storage know that moving may not be the most fun you’ve ever had, but planning ahead will go a long way toward making the process bearable. Leaving everything until the last minute will only stress you out. A little preparation will help make you feel better about your local Austin move or interstate move. Nothing is worse than the feeling of helplessness that will overcome you if you schedule a move and are completely unprepared when the movers show up. Following are some simple tips and tricks to help you make the most of your moving experience, whether your move is a local Austin move or a cross country long distance move. And of course you can always contact our friendly office staff for additional suggestions or to ask specific questions about your move. We’re here to help!

Tip #1:
Make a list
Write everything down! Trust us, you will thank yourself later (like when your 8 year old is inconsolable and wants only his spiderman jammies…). Before you pack even one box, create a simple record keeping system. Create a computer-printed list of numbers with a space to write the contents. Or have a spiral-bound notebook for the job. Place a number on EVERY box you pack and specify the contents on your list. Don’t put the list down unless it is in a place you will call Packing Central. This is where you can find your labels, marking pens, box tape, and other supplies. When describing the box contents, be specific — “A-D files” is better than “files”, and “flower dishes” better than “misc. kitchen”. The more specific you are, the less you will have to dig for necessary items later on.

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When packing up your home or business it is important to follow a few simple guidelines to ensure that your move experience is a positive one. Your Austin movers at Elephant Moving & Storage have a lot of experience in this department! If you have any questions we encourage you to call our office anytime for assistance.

The most important thing to remember when packing boxes is to use the proper size box for each item. Book boxes are so called for a reason - they are designed to hold books and other small, heavy items. Large boxes and wardrobe boxes are NOT suitable for this purpose! This is not laziness on the part of your Austin mover; not only is it unsafe for the movers to haul extremely heavy boxes up and down stairs and in and out of the truck, but it will ikely result in damage to your items. When a large box has been filled to capacity with books and other heavy items the box is likely to rip and spill your possessions all over the place. Stick to packing books in book boxes for best results.

If there is space in your boxes use a filler, such as packing paper or blankets or towels, to avoid having the boxes crush while in transit. This prevents the items inside being smashed, and also prevents damage to items while in transit as crushed boxes do not stack well.

Remember to securely tape the bottoms and tops of all your boxes! Leaving boxes open while in transit will result in lost and damaged items. Folding the bottoms of the boxes is also guaranteed to result in lost and damaged items; when your Austin movers pick up these boxes chances are the folded bottoms will fall away and send your things showering down to the ground.

Fragile items should be packed with appropriate padding! It is a bad idea to fill a box with plates or glasses and not pad them with any foam, paper or bubble wrap. Being cheap with the packing materials will result in expensive damages later!
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At Elephant Moving and Storage we strive to maintain the highest quality services. Our movers work hard to get your valued possessions moved safely across town or across the country. Ocassionally, however, despite all efforts and precautions, small damages may occur. It is important to remember that all claims must be submitted in writing. A phone call will not be sufficient to process your claim! If you have a damage claim the best way to begin the claims process is to submit your claim to our claims department by emailing claims@elephantmovingaustin.com. Please include your name, the date of your move, a description of the item and the damage that occurred, the value of the item, and what you are asking for as compensation. If you have photographs of the damage please send those along with your claim.

Be advised that damage claims will be limited to $.60 per pound per article as noted on our local and long-distance moving contracts. This is the basic level of liability that is included in the rates for moving. If you purchased additional moving insurance coverage through MovingInsurance.com then you must submit your claim directly to them online at http://www.movinginsurance.com/claim/login.asp. For any damage to floors, walls, doors, and painted surfaces, Elephant Moving’s liability is limited to $100.00.

Also, please note that pressed wood and particle board furniture are exempt from any insurance or valuation coverage (this includes the basic $.60 per pound and also any additional coverage from www.movinginsurance.com). This furniture is not stable, and is not meant to travel fully assembled. For further discussion on this topic please visit the pressed wood section of our blog. If you have questions about the claims process or insurance for your move please feel free to call our office and we will be happy to assist you.

At Elephant Moving & Storage we strive to maintain the highest quality moving services. And how do we do that? First and foremost, our experienced crews wrap all furniture in heavy duty quilted moving blankets before it is even moved in order to prevent damages. We don’t take items to the truck first then throw blankets over them as we load. This offers very little protection, since most of the damage will occur in doorways, tight spaces such as hallways and on stairs.

This is a question the sales staff at Elephant Moving hears frequently. Many customers want to know why we need an accurate item list from them if we are charging by the hour.
REASON #2:
An accurate item list helps our moving crews keep their schedule. If a crew shows up to a move and there is more to move than on the list then the move will take longer. This means that the crew will be late to the moves after this one, which is not fair to the other customers. Just as you expect your Austin movers to arrive on time, so does everyone else who schedules a move with Elephant Moving & Storage. We know that it is sometimes hard to know if your list and box count are wrong until you have finished packing. Every customer receives a confirmation email at the time of booking; this email summarizes your move and contains a copy of your inventory list. Every customer also receives a confirmation phone call the day before their move. At any time leading up to your move appointment, including during that confirmation phone call, we encourage you to inform the office of any changes to your list. This will allow us time to inform other customers that their start times will be later or earlier than originally stated. If the crew shows up to find a lot more or less than on the list there may be additional charges on the day of your move. Please try to keep your Austin movers updated so move day is smooth for all!

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This is a question the sales staff at Elephant Moving hears frequently. Many customers want to know why we need an accurate item list from them if we are charging by the hour.
REASON #1:
The most important reason is to make sure that we are sending the right size crew of movers to each and every move. We want to make sure that your moving experience is a positive one! Elephant Moving strives to maintain a consistent level of quality and service. If the crew is too small for the job the move will not go well. The crew will become fatigued and that leads to damages! A larger crew on a larger job will not only help prevent damages, but it will also save you money! We structure our rates so that the larger crews cost less per man than a 2 man crew, which means in the end our customers save money. For example, if a 2 man crew would need over 7 hours to complete a particular job the cost would be $90/hr x 7 hrs = $630. This same job would take a 4 man crew 3.5 hours to complete at a rate of $150 per hour = $525. Who doesn’t like saving money?!

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When purchasing moving insurance for your local or long-distance move you should be sure to read the fine print carefully! There are some things that are not covered by any moving insurance policy. Boxes, containers and items that are packed by owner (PBO) are excluded from full coverage - the maximum amount that will be paid for these items is $250. If there are items that need to be boxed or otherwise packaged that you would like insured for above this amount then you will need to order packing services from your Austin mover in order to get full replacement coverage.

Delicate and fragile items - including glass tables/tops, marble tables/tops, slates, paintings, framed pictures, chandeliers, display cases - must be professionally packed and/or crated in wooden or other protective containers to be covered. Wrapping such items in moving pads only does not constitute professional packing and are not covered. All lamps, including floor or pole lamps not professionally packed in cartons specifically made for this item will be excluded from coverage. Loss and/or damage to articles not professionally wrapped with special moving pads, bubble wrap, and/or shrink-wrap will also be excluded from coverage. Mattresses and boxsprings are specifically excluded from coverage unless packed by the mover in mattress cartons specifically designed for this purpose. Shrink-wrap alone does not constitute proper protection.

The following items are excluded from coverage regardless of how they are packaged:
jewelry, watches, gem stones, cash, currency or bank notes, deeds, travelers cheques, coin or stamp collections,
sports memorabilia, alcoholic beverages, negotiable items, furs or garments trimmed with fur, plasma televisions, firearms and
ammunition, or contraband. Loss or damage to motorcycles is not covered. Wrinkled or soiled clothing, linens, drapes, or rugs are also excluded.

*** Moving insurance excludes damage to any furniture constructed of veneered chipboard, particle board, composite board, pressed wood or similar. Any reduction in quality arising as the result of dismantling or reassembling of any such items of furniture is also excluded. Click here for other posts on this subject. ***

And perhaps the most important exclusion to remember: Items not listed on the movers’ inventory prepared at origin are not covered. Items not shipped are not insured. Be sure to double check the inventory your Austin movers have prepared for your shipment!

As with any insurance policy, it is important to read through your moving insurance policy information so that you are aware of all exclusions and exceptions to the coverage. If you have any questions or concerns talk to your move coordinator.

The insurance offered on your move covers only the items that the movers are transporting. Please be advised that our liability is limited to $100.00 for damage to floors, walls, doors, and painted surfaces.

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More moving insurance options:

Total Loss Only
This coverage is for a specified dollar amount and pays only in the case of catastrophic loss. Small damages are not covered by this type of insurance. Benefits of this coverage include low cost and protection against a major accident or disaster.

Add-on options for full replacement value moving insurance include pairs and sets coverage and mechanical and electrical derangement coverage. Pairs and sets will replace a full set of something if only one or part of the set is damaged. The mechanical coverage covers internal working of mechanical and electrical devices (without this add-on coverage, only physical damage to the unit itself is covered).

Movinginsurance.com also covers storage in our warehouse (self storage facilities are not covered). A policy purchased for a local or interstate move is good for up to 90 in our storage facility. Customers can also purchase extensions of this coverage on a monthly basis to cover periods longer than 90 days.

All of our basic and increased insurance options cover the goods that we transport and store. None of these options cover damage to the premises we work in. Be advised that Elephant Moving’s liability is limited to $100.00 for damage to floors, walls, doors, and painted surfaces.

Get your local or long distance residential or commercial moving estimate now!

Get a quote for moving insurance now!